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I'm really impressed by how quickly Netflix went from having one cheap, convenient service to two less cheap, less convenient services...

Ugh. Yes. I've been toying with the idea of adding DVDs back onto my plan and I know I can still do that but it's just less appealing. I liked having everything on one website, of looking up a movie or show and seeing if it was streaming or on disc and being able to select it immediately. I'm already annoyed with their interface and now if I want a movie I have to sign up for the other service and do a search on two websites.

The silly thing is that it's not even that bad and I know that the things I'm complaining about are minor, but it's like they went about the changes in a way to make you really feel all of them and hate them all.

On another note, I've seen a lot of headlines about how many subscribers they've lost, but has anyone seen stats about people changing plans? I'd be interested to see how many people went to a lower priced plan.

The silly thing is that it's not even that bad and I know that the things I'm complaining about are minor, but it's like they went about the changes in a way to make you really feel all of them and hate them all.

Netflix has done a really shitty job of communicating with their customers with all of these recent changes. I'm more annoyed about that than any of the changes themselves.

"1. Create new industry (DVDs by mail)
2. Do it way better than anyone else
3. Drive nearly all the competitors out of the DVD rental business and have a near-monopoly
4. Build up over a decade of brand recognition
5. Throw it all away.
6. Focus instead on delivery system that has tons of competitors and burdened by content providers with draconian licensing contracts"

The silly thing is that it's not even that bad and I know that the things I'm complaining about are minor, but it's like they went about the changes in a way to make you really feel all of them and hate them all.

Netflix has done a really shitty job of communicating with their customers with all of these recent changes. I'm more annoyed about that than any of the changes themselves.

I feel like they have also done a shitty job of LISTENING to the customers.

^^^
Exactly. It would have created a precedent. Suddenly HBO, Showtime and maybe even media conglomerates like NBC/Sci-Fi and their host of channels would've have insisted on a unique pricing structure for their product.

You know, I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to this. I've not had cable/satellite for more than 6 years because I don't want to pay for a bunch of crap I don't want. I've always said that I'd have it in a heartbeat if I could build my own package of channels ala-carte. If Netflix essentially made that available to me and the network shows were available for streaming as soon as they aired my spending with Netflix would jump from $8/mo to probably $40 or $50.

__________________
"I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell." RIP, Red Ranger

Those fools need to hire some competent marketing/branding/strategy help immediately before they do any more damage to themselves.

They could have just called it Netflix By Mail. Or Netflix II: The Revenge. Or Netflix Old School...or...something...

Netflix Classic.

However, the streaming just isn't good enough yet to justify this move so soon

Which is why they need to keep the DVD business bundled with streaming. The streaming part is the future, but until they can build a comparable library like they have with the DVDs, it will not be "there" yet. The DVD customers are the seeds from which the streaming business will grow.

They can charge a separate pricing structure for DVD vs streaming but really what I would have done is just played along with Starz, and priced Starz content at a premium right at the point where the customer makes the "add to queue/don't add to queue" decision. And make damn sure they understand that the price hike is for Starz, not for Netflix generally. I'd put their fucking logo right next to the icon that says this costs you two rentals not just one.

If customers want to throw a fit, let them throw a fit at Starz. If all this shit had blown up in Starz' face, that would have sent a chilling message to studios that they better not get egotistical about how much their content is actually valued by subscribers. Netflix could have used the shitstorm to their strategic advantage, to gain leverage over content producers, instead of being hurt by it. The whole logic of the internet is driving digital content down, down, down towards zero. Starz and the other content makers can fight all they want, but they are fighting the tide.

Netflix can still have a business as the YouTube of professionally produced content, and that is how they should start seeing themselves now. YouTube's value is in its size and its community which is rating and sorting content, and publicizing it, for free. Netflix's business is going to be the free labor provided by its customers because content will eventually be worth nothing. Starz is on the wrong side of that equation, but Netflix is apparently too stupid to understand that they are on the right side, and should take advantage of that!

First they remove the community features.

That's the stupidest thing - they need to be adding community features, because that's what their business is going to be one day.

The silly thing is that it's not even that bad and I know that the things I'm complaining about are minor, but it's like they went about the changes in a way to make you really feel all of them and hate them all.

Netflix has done a really shitty job of communicating with their customers with all of these recent changes. I'm more annoyed about that than any of the changes themselves.

I feel like they have also done a shitty job of LISTENING to the customers.

Agreed. They've basically shot themselves so many times in the foot that it's pathetic.

I don't think they've done themselves any favors by breaking these two components into separate websites. If they're going to push me to a new website for my DVD queue, maybe it's time to take another look at Blockbuster's service.

...

Well let's see here, One DVD at a time Blockbuster $10, Netflix $8
Two out at a time, Blockbuster $15, Netflix $12. Yup, boy those Netflix guys are really screwing everyone, I can't wait for everyone to join Blockbuster so they can pay more.

The new name just doesn't make sense. Nothing about it implies "movie rental."

There's also a movie site named "Flixster", which sounds a lot like "Qwikster". So they have no brand recognition, and the name they do have is quickly associated with things other than Netflix. I mean, seriously, whoever said "Mailflix" or "Netflix Classic" would make more sense. I agree with the idea of what they're doing, but the name wasn't the best choice.